DailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comDailyFinance.comhttp://o.aolcdn.com/os/df/2013/img/2-dailyfinance_logo_m.pngDailyFinance.comhttp://www.dailyfinance.comen-usCopyright 2015 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/Embarrassing Money Issues Men Havehttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/28/embarrassing-money-issues-men-have/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/28/embarrassing-money-issues-men-have/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/28/embarrassing-money-issues-men-have/#commentsFiled under: Credit, DebtEmbarrassing money issues can rear their ugly heads at any time, putting any of us in situations that can be downright cringe-worthy.

After all, men frequently have their self-esteem, identity or feelings of self-worth wrapped up in financial matters - all of which makes dealing with awkward money incidents particularly unsettling.

If you're a single guy running your own finances or a married man responsible for maintaining a household budget, you need to be well prepared for some common money calamities that could threaten your wallet - as well as your ego.

Regardless of whether you're a single woman who's steering your own finances, or are running an entire family budget, you might run into some embarrassing money issues at some point. There are awkward and embarrassing money issues that affect all of us - both women and men alike.

But certain personal financial challenges are more likely to strike females. Fortunately, there are several things you can do to solve common money issues women face.

Unfortunately, many people who would like to eliminate their debt shoot themselves in the foot by making bone-headed mistakes that actually compound their debt problems.

Here are the four dumbest things you can do if you're already deep in debt:

1. Keep spending recklessly.

You'd be surprised at the number of people with credit card bills up to their eyeballs who nevertheless keep on spending carelessly. Some are shopaholics who need help ending their shopping addictions. Others need to learn to budget - or haven't even bothered trying.

]]>credit cardsCreditCardDebtCreditCardsdebthome equity loanHomeEquityLoanLynnette Khalfani-CoxWed, 27 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST5 Ways to Reduce Your Debthttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/26/5-ways-to-reduce-your-debt/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/26/5-ways-to-reduce-your-debt/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/26/5-ways-to-reduce-your-debt/#commentsFiled under: Credit, DebtIn my New York Times bestseller, Zero Debt, I outline 30 strategies that I used to get out of debt and how anyone else can do the same thing.

Here are five of the simple strategies that will help get you on the path to being debt free - as well as some resources to help you get started:

1. Put your debts in writing

Many people struggling with credit card debt have absolutely no idea exactly how much they owe. Instead, they just "guesstimate" their total bills -- and they're often way off with their numbers.

]]>CreditCardDebtdebtdebt managementDebtManagementLynnette Khalfani-CoxTue, 26 Jul 2011 09:00:00 ESTMaking a Financial Comeback After a Setbackhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/21/making-a-financial-comeback-after-a-setback/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/21/making-a-financial-comeback-after-a-setback/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/21/making-a-financial-comeback-after-a-setback/#commentsFiled under: Credit, Debt, Credit ReportsSo you first messed up your finances in your 20s, then made matters worse in your 30s. But now you're ready to act your age, get serious about the business of fixing your credit and start writing your financial comeback story, right?

Whether you went on a few too many credit card-fueled shopping sprees, missed a series of payments that damaged your credit report or lost your job for a prolonged period of time, there are still ways to bounce back and take control of your financial future.

It's all about getting back to financial basics and creating a realistic plan that will help you achieve your financial goals.

Whether or not you should accept a balance transfer deal depends on many factors, including the fine print of the balance transfer agreement and whether or not you can successfully use the balance transfer to better manage your overall debt.

Shifting debt from one credit card to another is more art than science, but done properly, it can save you lots of money -- particularly if you're taking debt from one high interest rate card and putting it on another, lower interest rate card. Balance transfers can also help you improve your credit score.

]]>balance transferBalanceTransfercredit card balance transfercredit cardsCreditCardsLynnette Khalfani-CoxTue, 19 Jul 2011 08:00:00 ESTWhat to Do With a Timeshare You No Longer Wanthttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/15/what-to-do-with-a-timeshare-you-no-longer-want/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/15/what-to-do-with-a-timeshare-you-no-longer-want/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/15/what-to-do-with-a-timeshare-you-no-longer-want/#commentsFiled under: Credit, Family Money, TravelBuying a timeshare property may have seemed like a good idea when you signed the timeshare contract. But if you're taking yet another "staycation" this summer - and really haven't been able to travel as much as you'd like the rest of the year as well - you may have realized that you aren't truly benefiting from your timeshare purchase.

Some people buy timeshares as potential investments. But that's often an unwise move, since timeshares aren't investments in the traditional sense, and they don't offer the typical benefits that, say, stocks or bonds might, such as price appreciation or dividends.

Many timeshares also don't function as traditional real estate investments either, since most timeshare buyers only own a specific and limited portion of a property for a specific week or month during the year.

That's why most people enter into a timeshare agreement simply to enjoy the privilege of having a vacation home at their disposal. Owning a timeshare, however, comes with a lot of inherent financial risks and may not always be your best economic move - especially in a slow economy.

Fortunately, you do have some options if you've signed a timeshare agreement and want to get out of it.

]]>timesharetimeshare propertytimeshare users groupTimesharePropertyTimeshareRentalsTimeshareUsersGroupLynnette Khalfani-CoxFri, 15 Jul 2011 08:00:00 ESTSaving Money With a 'Fun Fund'http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/14/saving-money-with-a-fun-fund/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/14/saving-money-with-a-fun-fund/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/14/saving-money-with-a-fun-fund/#commentsFiled under: How to Save MoneySaving money for the future doesn't have to be so serious, and it's not always done for such high-minded goals like retirement or paying for a child's college education.

When my husband, Earl, and I got married, it was the second time around for us. So when we joined households, we had a hodge-podge of furniture that clashed and which, frankly, looked like something out of a badly furnished dorm room. There was steel mixed with wood. His old yellow leather sofa and my glass tables. It was an architectural mess.

I don't remember just what caused our awakening of how frightfully uncoordinated our furnishings were. But I do recall the two of us, almost simultaneouly, having an epiphany that something (OK, everything) needed to change. The house needed to look like grown-ups -- adults who had at least two cents worth of style and taste -- lived there.

But we didn't rush out to the nearest store and buy everything at once, or engage in impulse shopping. Instead, we shopped for just the right items, planned our purchases in order to continue saving money, and made fun out of the process.

]]>saving moneyLynnette Khalfani-CoxThu, 14 Jul 2011 09:30:00 ESTAre Hotel Savings Card Programs a Good Deal or Not?http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/12/are-hotel-savings-card-programs-a-good-deal-or-not/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/12/are-hotel-savings-card-programs-a-good-deal-or-not/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/12/are-hotel-savings-card-programs-a-good-deal-or-not/#commentsFiled under: Credit, Family Money, TravelIf you stay at any of the major hotel chains, such as Marriott, Hilton and Hyatt properties, on a frequent basis, you may have been offered a hotel savings card to save money on future stays.

Collecting hotel rewards points is similar to collecting frequent flier miles and may help to offset the costs of future hotel stays or vacations.

In some cases, the rewards program is linked to a credit card rewards program - either the hotel's reward card or another card - where you can earn bonus points for other discounts and special offers.

]]>credit cardcredit card rewardsCreditCardCreditCardRewardshilton hhonorsHiltonHhonorshotel savings cardtravel rewardsTravelRewardsLynnette Khalfani-CoxTue, 12 Jul 2011 15:00:00 EST6 Ways to Simplify Your Summer Financeshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/08/6-ways-to-simplify-your-summer-finances/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/08/6-ways-to-simplify-your-summer-finances/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/08/6-ways-to-simplify-your-summer-finances/#commentsFiled under: Family Money, Personal FinanceIf you're like me, you'd like to simplify your summer finances. After all, summer is the time to relax a bit more, spend extra time with family and friends, and maybe even indulge in a little getaway if a summer vacation fits into your budget.

So chances are, money matters are the last things you want to worry about - especially if you're thinking about hitting the beach, planning a backyard barbecue, or even just chilling out alone on your porch with a good book.

In the spirit of keeping things light and easy for the summer, here are six tips to help simplify your summer finances. I've used the six-letter acronym S.U.M.M.E.R. to help you remember them.

]]>budgetingsaving moneySavingMoneysimplify financessimplify your summer financesSimplifyFinancesSimplifyYourSummerFinancessummer financestaxesLynnette Khalfani-CoxFri, 08 Jul 2011 08:00:00 EST3 Ways to Reduce Summer Camp Expenseshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/07/3-ways-to-reduce-summer-camp-expenses/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/07/3-ways-to-reduce-summer-camp-expenses/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/07/3-ways-to-reduce-summer-camp-expenses/#commentsFiled under: Family Money, How to Save MoneyAs every working parent knows, summer camp expenses can take a bite out of the family budget. But if you don't have other reliable daycare options, summer camps are likely your best alternative for keeping the kids busy - and allowing you to continue working uninterrupted.

Unfortunately, most summer camps don't come cheap, and from Boston to Beirut, prices for summer camps are on the rise.

According to the American Camp Association, the price for weekly summer camps in the U.S. can range anywhere from less than $100 to more than $800, depending on the type of camp, its location and the activities offered.

Northwestern Mutual recently surveyed 1,000 Americans 25 and older to analyze their financial tenacity and self-discipline. Not surprisingly, the bulk of those polled admitted they were lagging in those areas.

According to the "Stick With It" study, three out of four Americans (74%) feel that today's fast-paced society makes it tougher for them to focus and remain on track when it came to achieving long-term goals.

If being distracted by today's demands - whether it's family obligations, friends on Facebook, work or even leisure activities - takes our focus off long-term objectives like saving for retirement, it's little wonder that the vast majority of Americans haven't saved enough for the future.

But even in a culture where everything around us is getting more immediate, the news isn't all bad.

]]>Lynnette Khalfani-CoxTue, 05 Jul 2011 13:00:00 ESTWhy Independence Day Means Financial Freedom to Mehttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/04/why-independence-day-means-financial-freedom-to-me/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/04/why-independence-day-means-financial-freedom-to-me/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/04/why-independence-day-means-financial-freedom-to-me/#commentsFiled under: Careers, EconomyWhen my husband, Earl, left his job as a national accounts manager for book publisher John Wiley & Sons, the very last email he sent from his corporate account carried the subject line "Independence Day."

Like many people who leave a job, Earl (shown at right, and above with me) used his parting missive to wish his colleagues well, to thank his mentors, and to relay his future contact information.

He also took the opportunity to declare - emphatically - that he was freeing himself from working for someone else, once and for all. "I'm happy," Earl's email said. "I'm going to start my own business and take my consulting activities to the next level."

]]>financial freedomFinancialFreedomindependence dayLynnette Khalfani-CoxMon, 04 Jul 2011 09:30:00 EST6 Ways to Save Money in the Second Half of the Yearhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/01/6-ways-to-save-money-in-the-second-half-of-the-year/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/01/6-ways-to-save-money-in-the-second-half-of-the-year/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/07/01/6-ways-to-save-money-in-the-second-half-of-the-year/#commentsFiled under: Credit, Personal Finance, How to Save MoneyHow well have you kept up with the financial resolutions you made back in January - especially the one that involved saving more money? Like most of us, your New Year's resolutions may be all but forgotten.

With half the year already gone, if you don't have much savings to show for the financial goals and resolutions you set earlier this year, it's time for a quick financial checkup.

There are still plenty of ways you can save money and strategies you can use that will greatly improve your economic situation for the rest of 2011 and beyond. But getting ahead financially may involve tweaking your budget and taking a close look at some of your spending and saving habits.

]]>save moneyLynnette Khalfani-CoxFri, 01 Jul 2011 08:00:00 ESTFamily Finances a Mess? Try Economic 'CPR'http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/29/family-finances-a-mess-try-economic-cpr/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/29/family-finances-a-mess-try-economic-cpr/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/29/family-finances-a-mess-try-economic-cpr/#commentsIf your family finances are sickly and anemic, it's time to fix what ails you. Restoring your family finances to economic health is a process that begins the moment you resolve to get off your fiscal deathbed and get into the economic intensive care unit.

The economic ICU is the one place you'll be financially resuscitated - but only after you self-administer a mega dose of emergency CPR to get your finances back on track to good health.

Marlene Ware, a financial educator for the National Foundation for Debt Management, has seen it all when it comes to unhealthy family finances: excessive credit card bills, medical debt, student loans, payday loans, foreclosure, bankruptcy and more. She's also seen well-intentioned parents - herself included - engage in massive overspending for their kids, only to regret it later.

"Saving money is critical to your secure future. Your kids will grow up, and you will grow older - this I know," says Ware. "If you don't begin saving today, your retirement future is at risk."

]]>family financesLynnette Khalfani-CoxWed, 29 Jun 2011 14:00:00 ESTCredit Card Rewards: How to Earn and Redeem Them Wiselyhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/27/credit-card-rewards-how-to-earn-and-redeem-them-wisely/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/27/credit-card-rewards-how-to-earn-and-redeem-them-wisely/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/27/credit-card-rewards-how-to-earn-and-redeem-them-wisely/#commentsFiled under: Credit ScoreIf you've been racking up credit card rewards, summer is the perfect time to use them.

And a new survey suggests that more Americans plan to do just that -- cashing in their credit card rewards as a money-savvy way to enjoy everything from quick weekend getaways to extended overseas vacations -- during these summer months.

According to the latest quarterly Capital One Rewards Barometer, which surveys how consumers accumulate and redeem credit card rewards, about 40% of consumers plan to use their credit card rewards for travel this summer, up from about one-third of consumers who used credit card rewards for summer travel last year.

But did you know that even when they're turned off, appliances and electronic gadgets gobble up energy, costing you money?

The average U.S. household spends about $1,900 a year on energy costs, according to the U.S. Department of Energy. And the DOE says that anywhere from 5% to 10% of your residential electricity is sapped by devices that are plugged in 24 hours a day.

]]>applianceselectricityelectronicsenergyhousehold appliancessaving energySavingEnergyunplugging devicesUnpluggingDevicesLynnette Khalfani-CoxMon, 20 Jun 2011 15:00:00 ESTFather's Day: A Financial Tribute to Military Dadshttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/18/fathers-day-a-financial-tribute-to-military-dads/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/18/fathers-day-a-financial-tribute-to-military-dads/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/18/fathers-day-a-financial-tribute-to-military-dads/#comments
But an overlooked group of fathers aren't showered with holiday cards, home-cooked meals or even the obligatory tie or bottle of cologne that so many dads receive as Father's Day gifts. In fact, these men won't get a chance to hug their families on Father's Day: They are fathers in the military; namely, the soldiers deployed overseas who are away on this special day.

Not only are these men making extraordinary personal sacrifices -- literally putting their lives on the line in the name of honor, duty and country -- they are making monumental financial sacrifices as well.

]]>Fathers Daymilitary dadsMilitaryDadsLynnette Khalfani-CoxSat, 18 Jun 2011 09:30:00 ESTStay or Go? How Financial Issues May Impact Anthony Weiner and His Wifehttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/16/stay-or-go-how-financial-issues-may-impact-anthony-weiner-and-h/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/16/stay-or-go-how-financial-issues-may-impact-anthony-weiner-and-h/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/16/stay-or-go-how-financial-issues-may-impact-anthony-weiner-and-h/#commentsFiled under: Family Money, Divorce, InvestingForget for a moment about whether or not embattled Congressman Anthony Weiner should stay or go. The real question is: Should his wife?

Even though Weiner's wife, Huma Abedin, hasn't expressed any plans to dump her husband in the wake of his sexting scandal, the blogosphere - and especially a lot of New Yorkers - are all weighing in and asking: Should she stay or should she go?

I would not presume to even offer an opinion on something so personal. But it's worth noting that Abedin's decision probably isn't as simple as many people might think -- namely because of a huge number of financial questions that are daunting at best.

]]>Anthony WeinerCongresscouples and moneyCouplesAndMoneydivorceHuma AbedinHumaAbedinpoliticsprenuptial agreementPrenuptialAgreementLynnette Khalfani-CoxThu, 16 Jun 2011 10:00:00 EST6 Tips for Finding a Good Bankruptcy Attorneyhttp://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/16/6-tips-for-finding-a-good-bankruptcy-attorney/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/16/6-tips-for-finding-a-good-bankruptcy-attorney/http://www.dailyfinance.com/2011/06/16/6-tips-for-finding-a-good-bankruptcy-attorney/#commentsFiled under: Bankruptcy, Credit, BankingFiling for bankruptcy can be a complicated and stressful process, and if you make certain bankruptcy blunders, you have a high chance of having your case rejected by the court. So it's usually in your best interest to work with an experienced bankruptcy attorney who can explain to you the basics about Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.

Good bankruptcy attorneys can advise you about all the necessary documentation and paperwork you need to support your case, they know local court rules and procedures, and they can answer any critical questions you may have about the process along the way.

But since bankruptcy lawyers don't come cheap, it's important to work with an experienced yet affordable attorney who can really help you work through this process and achieve your goal of getting out of debt. If you're considering filing for bankruptcy protection, use these six tips to find a qualified and experienced bankruptcy attorney: